A U.S. military aircraft carrying 205 Indian nationals, who were deported for illegal immigration, landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon.
The C-17 aircraft departed from San Antonio, Texas, at approximately 3 a.m. IST on February 4, experiencing delays before arriving in India. According to senior officials, the deportees hail predominantly from Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Sources indicate that most individuals on board were restrained with handcuffs during the journey. Upon initial questioning, deportees revealed that they had used various agents and stayed at multiple locations before being apprehended by U.S. authorities.
“We have been informed that these individuals paid significant amounts to enter the U.S. illegally. While many were deceived by agents, they also knowingly chose irregular migration routes," a senior government official stated on condition of anonymity.
Indian authorities have commenced an inquiry into the deportation. Local law enforcement and central agencies are assessing each case, with allegations ranging from visa violations to involvement in unauthorized migration networks. Some deportees were misled, while others inadvertently became entangled in a broader illegal immigration scheme, the official added.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Decisions regarding potential legal action will be made after an initial round of questioning by multiple investigative bodies. Indian authorities anticipate additional deportations from the U.S. in the coming weeks.
State Response and Concerns Over Deportation
Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, announced that the state government has set up assistance counters at the airport to facilitate the returnees. Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, expressed disappointment over the deportations, arguing that these individuals had contributed to the U.S. economy and should have been granted permanent residency instead. He noted that many of them had initially entered the U.S. on valid work permits, which later expired, rendering them undocumented immigrants.
Dhaliwal also revealed plans to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar next week to discuss the concerns of Punjabis residing in the U.S. He urged individuals to avoid illegal migration routes and instead focus on acquiring skills, education, and language proficiency to explore legal avenues for overseas opportunities.
U.S. Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
The deportations come amid intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has ramped up measures against undocumented migrants. Since Trump’s inauguration last month, U.S. authorities have taken stringent actions against individuals who entered the country through unauthorized channels, including the so-called “donkey routes."
Military Aircraft Used in Deportation Efforts
Trump signed an executive order on January 20, authorizing the use of U.S. military resources to support immigration enforcement. Former Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses stated that the Department of Defense would provide military airlift assistance to the Department of Homeland Security for the deportation of over 5,000 undocumented individuals.
According to a New York Times report, these deportees were previously held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the southern border. Salesses noted that deportation flights would proceed only after the U.S. State Department secured necessary diplomatic clearances from the respective countries.
The use of military aircraft for deportations is also seen as a symbolic move, reinforcing the administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted images of a C-17 Air Force plane transporting migrants, stating, “President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the world: If you enter the United States illegally, you will face severe consequences.”
Wider Implications: Trade and Immigration Policy
Beyond immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has also introduced significant trade policy changes, including restrictions on de minimis shipments from China and other countries. The new measures impact e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu, which have benefited from tariff exemptions on low-value imports. The U.S. Congressional Committee on China reported that nearly half of all packages under the de minimis provision originate from China, raising concerns about enforcement capabilities.
As U.S. immigration and trade policies undergo stricter regulation, the repercussions extend beyond deportations, affecting global economic dynamics and migration trends.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.